International Students' Short-Video Practices as Cultural Media: The Case of Urban Narratives of Ningbo

Abstract

In the increasingly intertwined context of short video platforms and urban communication, the daily posts of international students in China have become significant sources for urban image production. However, existing research often overlooks their active role as cultural intermediaries. This study takes the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC) as a case study, exploring how international students construct and disseminate the narrative of "Ningbo" through their Vlogs on WeChat Video Account. Employing a qualitative case study design, the research combines multi-modal content analysis of approximately 30 vlogs with semi-structured in-depth interviews of 10 creators. Findings reveal that students construct an image of Ningbo as a "livable and attractive" city through bright visuals, diary-style narratives, and bilingual subtitles, centering on themes of daily life, urban landscapes, and campus–urban connections. Additionally, platform algorithms and audience feedback shape their content choices and encourage a sense of representation and emotional labor in continuous creation. This study extends cultural intermediary theory into a platformized context, emphasizing the dual agency of international students in constructing urban imaginations.